Rhaphiolepis plant named ‘PS-2013-1’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Rhaphiolepis indica  plant named, ‘PS-2013-2’, that is characterized by its spreading plant habit that is wider than it is tall, its dense and self-branching plant habit with short internode lengths, its leather-like leaves that are deep emerald green in color, its flowers that are dark pink in color, its resistance to foliar pathogens, and its foliage and flower buds that are cold hardy at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 7.

Botanical classification: Rhaphiolepis indica.

Variety denomination: ‘PS-2013-1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rhaphiolepis indica and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘PS-2013-1’. ‘PS-2013-1’ is an evergreen shrub grown for use as a landscape plant and container plantings.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Grand Saline, Tex. The overall purpose of the breeding program is to develop new cultivars of Rhaphiolepis plants with compact growth habits, uniform flowering habits, and glossy, green, disease resistant foliage.

‘PS-2013-1’ originated from the open pollination of Rhaphiolepis indica ‘Conor’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,398) in April of 2011. The male parentage is therefore unknown. The collected seeds were treated with the chemical colchicine prior to planting and polyploidy is suspected based on its characteristics but not verified. ‘PS-2013-1’ was selected as a single unique plant in April of 2013 from amongst the resulting seedlings.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor by semi-hardwood stem cuttings in June of 2013 in Grand Saline, Tex. Asexual propagation by semi-hardwood stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘PS-2013-1’ as a unique cultivar of Rhaphiolepis.

-   -   1. ‘PS-2013-1’ exhibits a spreading plant habit that is wider         than it is tall.     -   2. ‘PS-2013-1’ exhibits a dense self-branching plant habit with         short internode lengths.     -   3. ‘PS-2013-1’ exhibits leather-like leaves that are deep         emerald green in color.     -   4. ‘PS-2013-1’ exhibits flowers that are dark pink in color.     -   5. ‘PS-2013-1’ exhibits resistance to foliar pathogens.     -   6. ‘PS-2013-1’ exhibits foliage and flower buds that are cold         hardy at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 7.

The female parent of ‘PS-2013-1’, ‘Conor’, differs from ‘PS-2013-1’ in having a more open plant habit that is equal in height and width, in having foliage that is olive green in color, and in having flowers that are lighter pink in color. ‘PS-2013-1’ can be most closely compared to the Rhaphiolepis indica cultivars ‘Hines Darkleaf’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,635) and ‘Sopink’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,388). ‘Hines Darkleaf’ is similar to ‘PS-2013-1’ in having foliage that is deep green in color and in having leaves with a leathery texture. ‘Hines Darkleaf’ differs from ‘PS-2013-1’ in being less densely branched (not self-branching) and in being susceptible to foliar pathogens. ‘Sopink’ is similar to ‘PS-2013-1’ in being resistant to foliar pathogens and in having a dense, well-branched plant habit. ‘Sopink’ differs from ‘PS-2013-1’ in having a mounded plant habit, in having foliage that is dull olive green in color, and in having flowers that are lighter pink in color with petals that are oblanceolate in shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Rhaphiolepis. The plants in the photographs were taken of a plant 2.5 years in age as grown outdoors in a two-gallon container in Grand Saline, Tex.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘PS-2013-1’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of ‘PS-2013-1’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digital photography techniques available and the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Rhaphiolepis.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 2.5 year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in 2-gallon containers in Grand Saline, Tex. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—For three weeks in April in Grand Saline,             Tex.         -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Well-branched and spreading wider than tall.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches an average of 0.6 m in height and             1.2 m in spread.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 7.         -   Diseases/pests.—Resistance to foliar diseases caused by the             pathogens Colletotrichum spp, Botryosphaeria corticola,             Cercospora spp., and Entomosporium maculatum has been             observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and fine and 175A in color.         -   Root initiation.—An average of four weeks for root             initiation with a rooted cutting produced after 12 weeks.         -   Root development.—About 24 months to fully root in a             3-gallon container.         -   Propagation.—Semi-hardwood stem cuttings.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate. -   Stem description:     -   -   Shape.—Round.         -   Stem quantity.—An average of 3 main stems and up to 7             lateral branches per main branch.         -   Stem color.—A blend between 202B to 202C and N200A.         -   Stem size.—Main stems; an average of 10 cm in length and 9             mm in width, lateral stems; an average of 4 cm in length and             8 mm in width.         -   Stem surface.—Rugose, woody and bark-like.         -   Internode length.—An average of 2 cm.         -   Branching.—Moderately branched with branches growing outward             and then held slightly upright from horizontal. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Obtuse and elliptic.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Obtuse.         -   Leaf apex.—Round.         -   Leaf fragrance.—None.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper surface; N144A, main vein more             prominent, lower surface; main vein more prominent and             N144A, other veins 137A.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 93 leaves per main branch.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf substance.—Moderately thick and strong.         -   Leaf surface.—Newly expanded leaves; upper surface glossy             and moderately covered with fine woolly pubescence 156D in             color, lower surface dull and moderately covered with fine             woolly pubescence 156D in color, mature; upper surface;             glossy and leathery, lower surface; matte.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 5.5 cm in length and 4 cm in width.         -   Leaf color.—Newly expanded leaves; upper surface a blend of             NN137A and 144A, flushed with 184A mainly on the veins and             margins and lower surface 131A, mature leaves; upper surface             131A and lower surface 144A.         -   Petiole.—An average of 1 cm in length and 3 mm in width,             color; 145B, sometimes flushed with 174A to 175A, strong,             glabrous and semi-glossy surface. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal compound corymb.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 9.5 cm in length and 5 cm             in width.         -   Flower buds.—Lanceolate in shape, an average of 1 cm in             length and 5 mm in width, a blend of 144A and N144A, flushed             with 59A and 187A at the apex, surface is slightly glossy             and covered with woolly pubescence that is dense at the             base, sparse at the mid-section and tip and dense on the             closed margins, 161A in color.         -   Flower fragrance.—Slight pleasant fragrance.         -   Flower and bud quantity.—An average of 23 per peduncle.         -   Flower type.—Rotate with slightly cupped petals and             prominent stamens and ovary.         -   Flower aspect.—Upwards.         -   Flower lastingness.—About 10 days.         -   Flower size.—An average of 2 cm in diameter and 1.5 cm in             depth.         -   Petals.—5, elliptical in shape, angle of petals ranges             between horizontal and slightly upright with a slightly             cupped form, slightly overlapping, about 4 mm of base is             fused into calyx and widely apiculate in shape, rounded             apex, entire margins, upper and lower surfaces are glabrous             and satiny, an average of 1 cm in length and 6 mm in width,             color: upper and lower surfaces when opening and when fully             open; a blend of 69A, 73A, and N74A with base NN155D.         -   Calyx.—Calyx portion is wrapped around petals when in bud             and reflexed on open mature flower with un-fused sepals,             about 1 cm in diameter and 5 mm in depth.         -   Sepals.—5, an average of 3 mm in length and 2 mm in width,             triangular in shape, acute apex, truncate base, margins are             entire and densely covered with woolly pubescence that is             158A in color and less than 0.5 mm in length, upper (inner)             and lower (outer) surface color is a blend of 144A and             N144A, flushed with 59A and 187A at the apex, upper (inner)             surface is glossy and glabrous, lower (outer) surface is             slightly glossy and moderately covered with woolly             pubescence that is less than 0.5 mm in length.         -   Peduncles.—An average of 4 cm in length and 2 mm in width,             145A in color and slightly flushed with 176A, slightly             glossy surface densely covered with fine woolly pubescence             that matches the surface color and is less than 0.5 mm in             length, strong.         -   Pedicels.—An average of 6 mm in length and 2 mm in width,             145A in color and slightly flushed with 176A, slightly             glossy surface is densely covered with fine woolly             pubescence that matches the surface color and is less than             0.5 mm in length, strong.         -   Bracts.—Bracts emerge at the base of a corymb and form a             whorl of up to 8, an average of 6 mm in length and 3 mm in             width, triangular in shape, acute to acuminate apex, outer             color is a blend of 144A and N144A and flushed with 59A and             187A, inner color is a blend of 163B and 190A, outer surface             is glossy, inner surface is dull. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil; 2, an average of 6 mm in length and 0.5             mm in width, stigma; 157A in color, 0.5 mm in diameter, and             rounded in shape, style; 145B in color and an average of 5.5             mm in length and 0.5 mm in width, ovary; round, 145D in             color, 2 mm in diameter.         -   Androecium.—Stamens; about 12, an average of 1 cm in length,             filaments; young flower; NN155D in color, mature flower; 72A             in color, an average of 9 cm in length and 0.5 mm in width,             anthers; 165B in color, club shaped, an average of 1 mm in             length and width, no pollen observed.         -   Fruit/seeds.—Fruit; globose in shape, 144B in color and             becomes suffused with 178A, an average of 7.5 mm in length             and width, seed; 1, globose nut, an average of 6 mm in             length and width, 158A in color. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rhaphiolepis plant named ‘PS-2013-1’ as herein illustrated and described. 